Garmen-drying apparatus



W. MESSINGER.

GARMENT DRYING APPARATUS. APPucATloN FILED M^R.1,191a.

Patented Apr. 27, 1920.

UNITED VsaATEs iena-Enr oEEicE.

WILLIAM MESSINGER, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO PHILADEL PHIA METAL DRYING- FORM COMPANY, OF NEW CASTLE, DELAWARE, A CORPORA- TION OF DELAWARE.

GARMENT-DRYING APPARATUS.

Application filed March 1, 1918.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM MEssrNGER, a subject of the Emperor of Austria and King of Hungary, who have declared my intention to become a citizen of the United States, residing in Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Garment-Drying Apparatus, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a drying apparatus particularly suitable for the drying of hosiery but also readily adaptable to the drying of garments generally. More specifically, one of the objects is t0 provide an apparatus wherein hollow forms, of any type known in the art, may be so connected with steam exhaust and inlet pipes that all the forms will be heated with substantial uniformity, the apparatus maintained free from entrained air, the elficiency of the steam retained to the highest possible degree until it is led into the interior of the forms, and the water of condensation taken care of sothat it will Vnot collect within the form or choke the free circulation of the steam therein. Another object of the invention is to providel forexpansion and contraction arising from successive use and disuse of the apparatus so as to avoid' leaks in the pipe connections. Anotherobject of the invention' is to provide means whereby the position of allthe forms may be simultaneously altered at will so as to be supported either vertically or inclined to the vertical at any angle. Another object of the invention is to provide for setting up the apparatus for transportation in such manner as to economize space. Other advantages of the invention will be apparent from the ,following description in connection with the appended drawings, which illustrate a `preferred embodiment of my invention and in whiche Figure 1 is a view of a portion of the apparatus shown principally in central section.

Fig. 2 is a cross section on line 2-2 of lria 1.

Figs. 3 and 4 are cross-sectional views of modaten .in @etailf Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 2,7, 1920.

serial No. 219,787.

diameter is closedat each end by a cap 3. A

metallic steam supply pipe 2, of relatively small diameter, extends longitudinally through the interior of exhaust pipe 1 and through and beyond the end caps. Surrounding the pipe 1 and extending through and threaded to each cap 3 is a gland 4, which is applied from the interior of pipe l. A stuiiing box 5 is threaded on that part of the gland extending outside the cap and encircles the pipe 2 and contines a packing 6 against the pipe 2 and the gland 4.

The top surface of the pipe 1 is flattened, as shown at 8, for any distance along the length of the pipe, affording a table for supporting the drying forms 9. Each form is provided with flanges 10, which are secured to the flat surface 8 of pipe 1 by means of cap screws 11, fluid tight packing 12 being first interposed between anges 10 and the fiat surface 8.

The drying form which I prefer to use is constructed in accordance with the form disclosed in the von Stetten patent, Reissue No. 14374, dated October 9, 1917, although it will be understood that forms of other constructions may be employed, my invention vnot being limited to the employment of any particular style of form. A partition 13 extends from the lower, or inlet, end of the form to near the upper end, dividing the form into two chambers which communicate at the top of the form, thereby providing ,means for the circulation of steam in opposite directions through the length of the form. A small tube or nozzle 14 is secured Ato the supply tube 2 and extends radially across the interior of exhaust tube 1 and 4through an aperture 15 in the wall of the .latter into one compartment ofthe drying form. The aperture 15 is of slightly greater diameter than the tube 14 so as to afford a restricted annular clearance space for the escape of water of condensation from the said compartment. A hole 7 in the exhaust pipe 1 affords communication between the exhaust pipe and the other compartment of the form. to permit theV exit from the form both of the steam that has passed therethrough and of the water of condensation that fOllllS in. the. last named compartment.

Instead of allowing a clearance space around the tube 14, an orifice 26 of restricted size may be provided in the wall of the pipe 1, or an orifice 27 of restricted size may be formed in the base of the partition. Either orifice will allow the escape of water of condensation from the steam inlet side of the partition 13 to the interior of the exhaust pipe. i

Bands 16 encircle the pipe 2. Only one of these bands is shown. Each band has end flanges which are confined between the upper ends of legs 17 by means of bolts 19. The legs 17 diverge downwardly and at their lower ends are flanged to form feet, which are secured to floor plates by means of lag screws.

vA crib or work-basket, composed of brackets 2O carrying the longitudinally extending strips 21, is anchored in front of the apparatus. A short table 22 is provided for sliding along the top edges of the basket.

The mode of operation is as follows:

Through inlet valves attached to l the threaded extremities of pipe 2 steam or any other heat-bearing fluid is admitted into the supply pipe 2 and passes with considerable velocity through each of the nozzles 14 directly into one chamber-of the corresponding heating form 9. The swiftly issuing fluid drives before it any air 'which may have become entrained in the interior of the pipes and in the heating forms. The exhaust steam and expelled air escapes from the forms through ports 7 into the interior of the large exhaust pipe 1 and discharges from the latter through a drain cock 25.

If the heating agent is steam, subject to condensing into water after it has given ofln its heat, any condensation which may collect immediately after issuing through the nozzles 14 will drop downward through the clearance space between each nozzle 14 and the bore of the corresponding aperture 15. Theports 7 not only exhaust the steam from the form, but exhaust the condensation from the compartment opposite to the one which is drained by the aperture 15.

The pipe 2 carrying fresh or live steam is incased in the larger pipe 1 filled with exhaust steam or hot water of condensation. The .fresh steam is thus hot-jacketed and retains nearly all of its heat until vit is liberated through the nozzles 14 into the drying forms, where only it is required to liberate its energy. The losses from radiation are thus minimized and the efficiency of the Whole heating system is greatly improved.

The pipe 2 is free to slide through stuffing boxes, composed of parts 4, 5 and 6, when expansion and contraction of length take place on heating or cooling during alternate use and disuse of the apparatus. Danger of springing leaks in the pipe connections is thus obviated and the entire heating table can easily be maintained absolutely leak proof.

In the drawings, the forms are shown occupying a vertical position. If it is desired, however, that they should assume a horizontal or inclined position the bolts 19 are loosened, and the forms and the pipe 1 to which they are secured are turned as a whole about the axis of pipe 1 until the forms reach the inclination desired. The bolts are then tightened, thereby holding the forms securely in their new position. In any position to which the forms and the exhaust pipe may be turned, the entire weight of the drying apparatus is supported at a convenient level above the floor line for easy manipulation by the attendant.

lVhen packing for shipment the exhaust pipe and the forms secured thereto may be completely reversed in position, the forms then extending between the legs 17, thereby substantially reducing the space occupied.

Having now fully described by invention, what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A garment drying apparatus comprising a fluid exhaust pipe, a fluid supply pipe extending into and longitudinally along the exhaust pipe, a hollow drying form, a partition therein, and a nozzle extending from the supply pipe and communicating with the interior of the form on one side of'said partition, there being means of communication between the form on both sides of the partition and the exhaust pipe, said means of communication being 4substantially more restricted on that side of the partition with which the supply nozzle communicates, thereby affording means both for the escape of exhaust fluid that has passed through the form and for the escape of condensed fluid from both sides of the partition.

2. A garment drying apparatus comprising a fluid exhaust pipe, a fluid supply pipe extending into and longitudinally along the exhaust pipe, a hollow drying form, a partition therein, and a nozzleextending from the supply pipe and communicating with the interior of the form on one side of said partition, the interior of the form on the other side of the partition communicating with the exhaust pipe, there being an orice of restricted size in the wall of the exhaust pipe on the first named side of the partition to, allow escape of any fluid that Ymay condense therein. e

3. A garment drying apparatus comprising a fluid exhaust pipe, a fluid supply pipe extending into and longitudinally along the 'exhaust pipe, a hollow drying form, a partition therein, and a nozzle extending ,from the supply pipe through an orifice in the wall of the exhaust pipe, leaving a clearance space surrounding the nozzle to, allow escape of condensed fluid from the form on one side of the partition into the exhaust pipe, there being an orifice connecting the interior of the exhaust pipe with the interior of the form on the other side of said partition.

l. A garment drying apparatus comprising a liuid exhaust pipe having an end head, a fluid supply pipe extending into the interior of and longitudinally along the exhaust pipe and through said head, a hollow drying form connected with both pipes, and a fluid tight joint between said head and the supply pipe permitting longitudinal movement of the supply pipe relatively to the exhaust pipe to provide for longitudinal contraction and expansion arising from temperature variations.

5. A garment drying apparatus comprising a fluid exhaust pipe having an end head, a fluid supply pipe extending into the interior of and longitudinally along the exhaust pipe and through said head, a hollow drying form connected with both pipes, a gland extending through said head and surrounding said pipe, a stufling box member surrounding the pipe outside said head and engaging the gland outside said head and packing surrounding the pipe and confined between the gland and the stuffing box member, thereby permitting longitudinal movement of the supply pipe relatively to the exhaust pipe to provide for longitudinal contraction and expansion arising from telnperature variation.

6. A garment drying apparatus comprising a fluid exhaust pipe having an end head, a fluid supply pipe extending into the interior of and longitudinally along the exhaust pipe and through said head, a hollow drying form connected with both pipes, a

gland extending through said head and surrounding said pipe, a stuffing box member surrounding the pipe outside said head and having an enlarged inner end surrounding and threaded on said gland, and packing surrounding the pipe and confined within the enlarged end of the stuffing box member and engaging the end of said gland.

7 A garment drying apparatus comprising a stand, an exhaust pipe supported on the stand, a supply pipe extending longitudinally through the exhaust pipe, the axes of both pipes being coincident, and hollow drying forms secured to the exhaust pipe and communicating with both pipes, said pipes being turnable in unison on their common axis.

S. A garment drying apparatus comprising a fluid exhaust pipe, a iuid supply pipe extending into and longitudinally alon the exhaust pipe, and a nozzle extending rom the supply pipe, the exhaust pipe being provided with two orifices, one communicating with the nozzle, and being attened at and adjacent its orificed portion, whereby a hollow drying form may be directly secured to the exhaust pipe without the intervention of a special litting.

9. A garment drying apparatus comprising a pipe for a iuid medium, a hollow drying form secured to the pipe, a band surrounding the pipe having depending ends, a stand comprising supporting legs, and a bolt extending through the stand and the ends of the band.

In testimony of which invention, I have hereunto set my hand. at Philadelphia, on this 26th day of February, 1918.

WILLIAM MESSINGER. 

